Brace Water Center Skill Workshop
Date: May 17, 2024 | Time: 9:00- 12:00 PM | Location: Macdonald Engineering Building Room: 267| Free Hybrid Event
"The evolving role of analytical chemistry in solving the PFAS environmental problem" presented by Dr. Chuck Powley
This workshop will introduce the role and advancement of analytical chemistry in addressing the PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) challenge, an area of increasing concern due to the persistence and ubiquity of PFAS in the environment.
In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Powley will trace the journey of PFAS analysis from the era preceding the commercialization of Electrospray Ionization (ESI) to the present. It highlights the technological advancements that have paved the way for more refined analytical techniques. The current approach to PFAS analysis includes both target and non-target approaches, as well as alternative methods like Total PFAS analysis using Time of Flight (TOF) spectrometry. The pressing need for efficient screening methods, improved total PFAS quantification techniques, and the push towards lower detection limits and enhanced practicality will be discussed.
In the second part, Dr. Powley will discuss the technical nuances of PFAS analytical methodologies. He will cover the basic components of PFAS detection, including extraction, concentration/purification, and mass spectrometry (MS) for analysis and confirmation. He will introduce the strategic approach of working backwards through the method to optimize recovery rates and minimize contamination. In the end, the critical role of quality control in ensuring the reliability and accuracy of PFAS measurement will be presented.
Dr. Chuck Powley
Dr. Chuck Powley is the Chief Scientist at the Center for PFAS Solutions, which is a research lab focused on analysis and remediation of PFAS in drinking water and the environment. He is an analytical chemist with over 35 years of experience in the development and application of analytical methods for trace determination of environmental pollutants and pesticides in water, soil, plants and animal materials. He has published numerous methods in peer-reviewed journals that have become the basis for regulatory and commercial environmental monitoring. He obtained a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Illinois followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Georgia. Prior to PFAS Solutions, he was a Research Fellow at the DuPont Company, working in the areas of trace analysis of industrial and agricultural chemicals in food and the environment.